MSC Cruises wished bon voyage to guests aboard MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica as the two ships departed from Genoa, Italy on 5 January for simultaneous world cruises.

Sailing together for the start of the cruises, the two ships will part ways at the edge of the Mediterranean for different routes around the globe. Guests will discover the world without having to repack their suitcase during their unforgettable 119-day voyage onboard MSC Magnifica and 117-day trip onboard MSC Poesia.

On top of the international dining options that MSC Cruises’ guests know, those sailing the 2023 world cruises can experience something extra special with menus crafted by a line-up of variety of international chefs.

These chefs will join the cruises at different intervals to prepare a complete menu from three to four courses, each showcasing their respective cuisines from around the world.

• On board both ships: Brazilian chef and restauranteur Allan Vila Espejo will serve a menu including authentic Manioc soup and Bahia-style fish stew with sweet peppers and coconut milk.
• On board MSC Magnifica: Peruvian chef James Berckemeyer will serve an array of Peruvian classics including veal cheek and local caramel pudding ‘Suspiro de Lucuma’.
• On board MSC Poesia:  Japanese-American chef Roy Yamaguchi’s menu features grilled teri-yaki pork chop with Hawaiian chimichurri among other worldly delights.
• On board MSC Poesia: Michelin-starred Swedish chef, TV personality and author Niklas Ekstedt will serve dishes inspired by natural ingredients and his farm-to-ocean ethos.

Travellers will be personally greeted on board by the chefs as they enjoy what the restaurants have to offer.

To further enrich guests’ experiences MSC Cruises has also carefully crafted a special enrichment programme with everything from ice carving and champagne tasting, a wide range of guest lectures on specialist topics, more than 30 different full-scale production shows, guest entertainers plus dance classes, languages schools and more!

MSC Magnifica & MSC Poesia departing Genoa. (Supplied)

Guests still wishing to explore far and wide in 2023 can book the last remaining cabins for shorter segments of the MSC World Cruises 2023.

MSC Magnifica’s 21-night segment ‘Sydney to Singapore’ departs on 18 March, 2023. Ports of call include Mare & Lifou Island in New Caledonia, Port Vila; Vanuatu and Alotau; Papua New Guinea, before arriving in Australia to visit Cairns & Darwin. From here MSC Magnifica heads to Benoa in Indonesia for an overnight stay prior to arriving in Singapore. Priced from AU$4,529pp.

Or over 36-nights, join MSC Magnifica from Valparaiso, Chile to Sydney, Australia and visit 14 destinations in 6 countries.  Guests will stop at Arica & Hanga Roa; Chile, enjoy an overnight stay in Callao; Peru before travelling through the Bounty Bay Passage to Tahiti. After an overnight stay in Papeete, MSC Magnifica sets sail for the Cook Islands and New Zealand before arriving in Australia. Priced from AU$7,149pp.

Heading home and departing 18 March, 2023 over 43-nights MSC Magnifica will visit 15 destinations in 11 countries sailing from Sydney, Australia to Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.  Guests will experience Mare & Lifou Island in New Caledonia, Port Vila; Vanuatu, Alotau in Papua New Guinea, Cairns & Darwin, Australia before heading to Benoa in Indonesia for an overnight stay.

Guests will further discover the sights and sounds of Asia with visits to Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India, where she will overnight in Mumbai. Crossing the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Peninsula with stops in Oman, Aqaba in Jordan for Petra, MSC Magnifica will then head home to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, yet another unforgettable experience to behold. Priced from AU$8,749pp.

All fares for the 2023 World Cruise segments include;

• Dine & Drinks package included for Bella and Fantastica experiences
• A selection of complimentary shore excursions
• 30 per cent discount on laundry services

Cabins are still available for the 2024 MSC World Cruise, with a stunning, brand-new itinerary that includes 52 amazing destinations in 31 different countries. Navigating the Med, Red Sea, South Africa, South America, Caribbean, USA & Canada, before returning to Europe via Greenland and Iceland.